Register Now!
October 26, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. map )
Nick Torres ntorres@marian.edu
Panelists
Anna Kietzman is President and Director of the Heartland Art Center, where she leads an all-volunteer nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to the arts, supporting artists, and strengthening communities through creativity. Since assuming the role, she has helped guide the organization's transformation from a small, rural visual arts association into a growing regional arts organization and community art center, leading strategic growth, capital development, community partnerships, and innovative programming. She believes the arts are not only culturally enriching but also a powerful catalyst for education, economic development, and vibrant communities.
Before returning to her hometown of Plymouth, Indiana, Anna taught upper elementary students after earning a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Philosophy from Beloit College and a master's degree in Elementary Education from National Louis University in Chicago. Her background in education continues to shape her collaborative leadership style and commitment to lifelong learning. Every now and then, she happily returns to the classroom by teaching an art class at Heartland.
Beyond Heartland, Anna serves as chair of the Plymouth Forward Comprehensive Plan Marketing Committee and is an active member of Tri Kappa. She is also a practicing artist whose work includes metalsmithing and silversmithing jewelry, modern quilling and paper art, and painting murals. Outside of her professional work, Anna enjoys exploring new creative mediums, traveling with her family, and discovering new places, often from the driver's seat of a camper van. She believes that curiosity, creativity, and a strong sense of community are at the heart of both meaningful leadership and meaningful lives.
A proud Hoosier, Lauren James is the Executive Director of the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation (MDLF), a nonprofit advancing its mission to “Enable Leaders. Drive Change.” by developing a statewide network of change agents working to make Indiana the best place to build a future.
Lauren’s career includes experience with the Indianapolis Colts, ExactTarget and Salesforce in marketing and community engagement, followed by TechPoint, where she led strategic initiatives and stakeholder engagement. An advocate, mentor and facilitator, Lauren is a 2026 Presidential Leadership Scholar and serves on the boards of United Way of Central Indiana, Orr Fellowship and American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis. Her impact has been recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal as both a Woman of Influence and Forty Under 40 honoree. She is also a recipient of the Elevate Award’s Board Member of the Year, a Make-A-Wish Women Inspiring Strength and Hope honoree and a Junior Achievement Best & Brightest finalist.
Her core values of championing others, doing the right thing and embracing a growth mindset have been shaped by her experiences as an inaugural MDLF Fellow, a participant in the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series and as an Aspen Institute Executive Seminar member.
Lauren graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Urban Planning & Development from Ball State University, holds a certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Lilly School of Philanthropy and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to Poland, where she served as a cultural ambassador and lecturer at the University of Wrocław.
Together, she and her husband, Dr. Luke James, enjoy road trips with their goldendoodle, Champ, supporting local restaurants, spending time on the lake and playing mediocre golf. She also finds joy in family and friends, staying active, watercolor painting, and a spirited game of euchre.
Susan Ford brings twenty+ years of experience working with/for leading executive leadership teams across all types of organizations, including Fortune 500, private equity-backed, and start-ups. She has a particular expertise in executive recruiting and organizational design and development. Over the course of her professional career, she has lived and worked in England, Japan, New York, Chicago, and now South Bend for the past ten+ years, where she and her husband are active members of the community.
Committed to regional development activities, she serves as the Chair of the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership and also serves on the board of the Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation and INVANTI. She and her husband are also involved with their children’s school and the many activities that come with raising four children (and two large dogs that haven’t stopped eating off the counters). Susan received her bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University, her M.Sc. from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and an Executive Management Certificate from the University of Notre Dame.
What is the Plymouth Women of Marian?
Give to Plymouth
Become a Member
This group of like-minded, philanthropic women loves to have fun while supporting the students and future leaders of Marian University Plymouth.
Membership level is based on annual giving, which supports scholarships for female students at the Plymouth location. Individual circles have varying benefits, including invitations to exclusive events and determining scholarship criteria.
Women of Marian Society 1937 Student Circle
Student members receive a variety of benefits, including invitations to student-specific and select Plymouth Chapter events, and opportunities to serve on the student leadership board.
Membership Circles
$1,000+ KASPER
$500 DERNBACK
$250 BLUM
$100 YOUNG ALUMNI (graduates of the last decade)
$19.37 1937 (for students)
Interested in becoming a member or have any questions? Contact Nick Torres, vice president of leadership giving, at ntorres@marian.edu or 317.955.6614
